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'Go to bed, Maciek, said the gospodyni; 'let that drunkard lie on the manure-heap, because he has been so disagreeable. Maciek obeyed and went to the stable. When all was quiet, he began for his amusement to pretend that he was drunk, and acted the part of Slimak or the Soltys in turns.
About midnight Slimak awoke, cold and wet, for it had begun to rain. Gradually his aching head remembered the Soltys, the cow, the barley soup and the large bottle of vodka. What had become of the vodka? He was not quite certain on this point, but he was quite sure that the soup had disagreed with him. 'I always say you should not eat hot barley soup at night, he groaned.
'What is there to be afraid of? snapped Slimak, but he himself was shivering. 'You see, my boy, he continued, more kindly, 'we have bought the new cow from the Soltys and we shall want more hay, so I am going to ask the squire to let me rent the field. 'I see....But, daddy, I am always wondering what the grass thinks when the cows chew it up. 'What should it think? It doesn't think at all.
He felt the liquor going to his head and fancied himself sitting by the Soltys and embracing him. The fumes of the vodka and the lamp were filling the room. Slimak and Grochowski moved closer together. 'Neighbour...Soltys, said Slimak, striking the table again. 'I'll give you whatever you wish, your word is worth more than money to me, for you are the cleverest man in the parish.
'Josef, his wife said, 'you must respect your guest; he is older than you, and he is Soltys. Maciek, help me to get them into the barn. 'I'll go by myself, roared Slimak. 'Thirty-three roubles... groaned Grochowski, 'chop me to bits, but I won't take a grosz more.... I am a Judas.... I wanted to cheat you.
Amen! that's my last word. 'I won't! shouted Slimak. 'Am I a Jew that I should be paid for hospitality? 'Josef! his wife said warningly. 'Go away, woman! he cried, getting up with difficulty; 'I'll teach you to mix yourself up in my affairs. He suddenly fell into the embrace of the weeping Grochowski. 'Thirty-five.... 'Thirty-three... sobbed the Soltys; 'may I not burn in hell!
'Maciek, she called, 'when the cow has had a drink, lead her to the cowshed. The Soltys will stay the night; the cow can't be left out of doors. 'Well, what next? asked Slimak. 'What has to be, has to be, she replied. 'He wants the thirty-five roubles and the silver rouble for the halter but, she continued after a pause, 'truth is truth, she is worth it.
It was about two o'clock when Maciek was ready to start. The Soltys hinted that the child had better be left behind, but his wife was so angry at the suggestion that he desisted. So Maciek tied her up again in the old bits of clothing and went his way.
These words seemed to break the spell; he felt sure Maciek and the child were alive, and he almost went out to call them in to supper. 'A low Jew, that Josel, he said to his wife, while he covered her again with the sheepskin, when her shivering-fits returned. Nothing should induce him to believe that story. Next day the village Soltys drove up with the summons for Jendrek.
He turned and ran at full speed to the Soltys' office. In the course of an hour or two a sledge with some men arrived to remove the bodies. But Maciek's was frozen so hard that it was impossible to open his arms or straighten his legs, so they put him in the sledge as he was.
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